System for treatment of biomass to facilitate the production of ethanol

ABSTRACT

Systems for treating biomass for the production of ethanol are disclosed. The systems are configured to treat a liquid component separated from biomass to yield sugars available to be fermented into a fermentation product. The systems comprise a filter configured to remove particulate matter to provide a filtered component and an apparatus configured to remove inhibitors from the filtered liquid component provide a treated liquid component comprising sugars available for fermentation. Methods for treating for treating biomass useful in the production of a fermentation product are also disclosed. The methods include the steps of filtering a liquid component to remove particulate matter thereby yielding a filtered liquid component, and treating the filtered liquid component to remove inhibitors thereby yielding a treated liquid component comprising sugars available to be fermented into a fermentation product.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to and incorporates by reference the following application: U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/157,143, titled Removal of Inhibitors from Pentose Liquor Using Ion Exchange Chromatography, filed on Mar. 3, 2009.

The present application relates to and incorporates by reference U.S. application Ser. No. ______ (Atty. Docket No. P184 1250.1), titled System for Pre-Treatment of Biomass for the Production of Ethanol, filed on Mar. 3, 2010.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a system for treatment of biomass to be used in the production of ethanol. The present invention also relates to systems and methods for treating a component of lignocellulosic biomass comprising sugars to be fermented into cellulosic ethanol. The present invention further relates to a system for treating a component of lignocellulosic biomass that has been pre-treated and separated to remove inhibitors from the component prior to fermentation in order to facilitate pentose fermentation resulting in an efficient production of ethanol.

BACKGROUND

Ethanol can be produced from grain-based feedstocks (e.g. corn, sorghum/milo, barley, wheat, soybeans, etc.), from sugar (e.g. from sugar cane, sugar beets, etc.), and from biomass (e.g. from lignocellulosic feedstocks such as switchgrass, corn cobs and stover, wood or other plant material).

Biomass comprises plant matter that can be suitable for direct use as a fuel/energy source or as a feedstock for processing into another bioproduct (e.g., a biofuel such as cellulosic ethanol) produced at a biorefinery (such as an ethanol plant). Biomass may comprise, for example, corn cobs and stover (e.g., stalks and leaves) made available during or after harvesting of the corn kernels, fiber from the corn kernel, switchgrass, farm or agricultural residue, wood chips or other wood waste, and other plant matter (grown for processing into bioproducts or for other purposes). In order to be used or processed, biomass will be harvested and collected from the field and transported to the location where it is to be used or processed.

In a conventional ethanol plant producing ethanol from corn, ethanol is produced from starch. Corn kernels are cleaned and milled to prepare starch-containing material for processing. (Corn kernels can also be fractionated to separate the starch-containing material (e.g. endosperm) from other matter (such as fiber and germ).) The starch-containing material is slurried with water and liquefied to facilitate saccharification where the starch is converted into sugar (e.g. glucose) and fermentation where the sugar is converted by an ethanologen (e.g. yeast) into ethanol. The product of fermentation (i.e. fermentation product) is beer, which comprises a liquid component containing ethanol and water and soluble components, and a solids component containing unfermented particulate matter (among other things). The fermentation product is sent to a distillation system. In the distillation system, the fermentation product is distilled and dehydrated into ethanol. The residual matter (e.g. whole stillage) comprises water, soluble components, oil and unfermented solids (i.e. the solids component of the beer with substantially all ethanol removed that can be dried into dried distillers grains (DDG) and sold as an animal feed product). Other co-products, for example syrup (and oil contained in the syrup), can also be recovered from the stillage. Water removed from the fermentation product in distillation can be treated for re-use at the plant.

In a biorefinery configured to produce ethanol from biomass, ethanol is produced from lignocellulosic material. Lignocellulosic biomass typically comprises cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Cellulose (a type of glucan) is a polysaccharide comprising hexose (C6) sugar monomers such as glucose linked in linear chains. Hemicellulose is a branched chain polysaccharide that may comprise several different pentose (C5) sugar monomers (such as xylose and arabinose) and small amounts of hexose (C6) sugar monomers in branched chains.

The biomass is prepared so that sugars in the lignocellulosic material (such as glucose from the cellulose and xylose from the hemicellulose) can be made accessible and fermented into a fermentation product from which ethanol can be recovered. After fermentation the fermentation product is sent to the distillation system, where the ethanol is recovered by distillation and dehydration. Other bioproducts such as lignin and organic acids may also be recovered as by-products or co-products during the processing of biomass into ethanol. Determination of how to more efficiently prepare and treat the biomass for production into ethanol will depend upon the source and type or composition of the biomass. Biomass of different types or from different sources is likely to vary in properties and composition (e.g. relative amounts of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and other components). For example the composition of wood chips will differ from the composition of corn cobs or switchgrass.

It would be advantageous to provide for a system for treating biomass to facilitate the production of ethanol. It would also be advantageous to provide for a system for treating a component of lignocellulosic biomass comprising sugars to be fermented into cellulosic ethanol. It would further be advantageous to provide for a system for treating a component of lignocellulosic biomass that has been pre-treated and separated to remove inhibitors from the component prior to fermentation in order to facilitate the efficient production of ethanol. It would further be advantageous to provide for a system that provides one or more features to facilitate improvement in the efficiency and yield of cellulosic ethanol from biomass.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a system for treating a liquid component separated from biomass comprising a filter configured to remove particulate matter from the liquid component thereby yielding a filtered liquid component. The system further comprises an apparatus configured to remove inhibitors from the filtered liquid component thereby yielding a treated liquid component comprising sugars available to be fermented into a fermentation product.

The present invention also relates to a system for treating a liquid component separated from biomass to yield sugars available to be fermented into a fermentation product comprising a filter configured to remove matter having a particle size of larger than about 25 to 100 microns from the liquid component and to provide a filtered component. The system further comprises an apparatus configured to remove inhibitors from the filtered liquid component by an ion exchange chromatography system and to provide a treated liquid component comprising sugars available for fermentation. The inhibitors comprise furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), etc. The treated liquid component comprises furfural in an amount no greater than about 700 PPM.

The present invention further relates to a method for treating biomass useful in the production of a fermentation product comprising the steps of separating the biomass into a liquid component and a solids component, filtering the liquid component to remove particulate matter thereby yielding a filtered liquid component, and treating the filtered liquid component to remove inhibitors thereby yielding a treated liquid component comprising sugars available to be fermented into a fermentation product.

The present invention further relates to a method for treating a liquid component separated from biomass to yield sugars available to be fermented into a fermentation product comprising filtering the liquid component to remove particulate matter having a size of larger than about 100 microns and to provide a filtered liquid component. The method further comprises the step of treating the filtered liquid component using an ion exchange chromatography system to remove inhibitors and to provide a treated liquid component comprising sugars available for fermentation. The sugars in the treated liquid component comprise xylose and glucose. The inhibitors comprise furfural. The treated liquid component comprises furfural in an amount no greater than 700 PPM.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES AND TABLES

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a biorefinery comprising a cellulosic ethanol production facility.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a biorefinery comprising a cellulosic ethanol production facility and a corn-based ethanol production facility.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a system for receipt and preparation of biomass for a cellulosic ethanol production facility.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a system for the production of ethanol from biomass.

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C are schematic block diagrams of systems for treatment and processing of components from the production of ethanol from biomass.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams of the process flow for systems for the production of ethanol from biomass.

FIG. 6A is a schematic block diagram of apparatus used for preparation, pre-treatment and separation of biomass.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of apparatus used to pre-treat and separate the biomass.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the process flow for separation of pre-treated biomass into a liquid component and a solids component.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic diagrams of a treatment system for the liquid component of pre-treated biomass.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus used to treat the liquid component of pre-treated biomass according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is perspective view of a system used to treat the liquid component of pre-treated biomass according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 11A is a bar graph of the sugar (glucose and xylose) concentration and furfural binding capacity of the Dow® Optipore® SD-2 for the liquid component (starting material) and at various amounts of resin.

FIG. 11B is a graph of results obtained through the use of the treatment system according to Example 1A.

FIGS. 11C through 11E are graphs of results obtained through the use of the treatment system according to Example 1B.

FIGS. 11F through 11G are graphs of results obtained through the use of the treatment system according to Example 1C.

FIG. 12A is a graph of the sugar (glucose and xylose) concentration and furfural binding capacity of the Dow® Optipore® L493 for the liquid component (starting material) and at various amounts of resin.

FIG. 12B is a graph of results obtained through the use of the treatment system according to Example 2.

FIG. 13A is a graph of the sugar (glucose and xylose) concentration and furfural binding capacity of the Purolite® MN102 for the liquid component (starting material) and at various amounts of resin.

FIG. 13B is a graph of results obtained through the use of the treatment system according to Example 3.

TABLES 1A and 1B list the composition of biomass comprising lignocellulosic plant material from the corn plant according to exemplary and representative embodiments.

TABLES 2A and 2B list the composition of the liquid component of pre-treated biomass according to exemplary and representative embodiments.

TABLES 3A and 3B list the composition of the solid component of pre-treated biomass according to exemplary and representative embodiments.

TABLE 4 presents the sugar (glucose and xylose) concentration and furfural binding capacity of the Dow® Optipore® SD-2 resin.

TABLE 5A presents the ion exchange system resin bed configuration according to Example 1A.

TABLE 5B presents the composition of the filtered liquid component supplied to the system and the composition of the samples of treated liquid component eluted from the system according to Example 1A.

TABLE 5C presents the ion exchange system resin bed configuration according to Example 1B.

TABLE 5D presents the composition of the filtered liquid component supplied to the system and the composition of the samples of treated liquid component eluted from the system according to Example 1B.

TABLE 5E presents the furfural, xylose and ethanol concentrations of the fractions and control according to Example 1B.

TABLE 5F presents the ion exchange system resin bed configuration according to Example 1C.

TABLE 5G presents the xylose concentration and furfural concentration in the ion exchange eluent and wash solutions according to various fractions according to Example 1C.

TABLE 6A presents the sugar (glucose and xylose) concentration and furfural binding capacity of the Dowex® Optipose L493 resin for the liquid component (starting material) and at various amounts of resin as illustrated in FIG. 13A.

TABLE 6B presents the ion exchange system resin bed configuration according to Example 2.

TABLE 6C presents the composition of the filtered liquid component supplied to the system and the composition of the samples of treated liquid component eluted from the system according to Example 2.

TABLE 7A presents the sugar (glucose and xylose) concentration and furfural binding capacity of the Purolite® MN102 resin for the liquid component (starting material) and at various amounts of resin as illustrated in FIG. 13A.

TABLE 7B presents the ion exchange system resin bed configuration according to Example 3.

TABLE 7C presents the composition of the filtered liquid component supplied to the system and the composition of the samples of treated liquid component eluted from the system according to Example 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1A, a biorefinery configured to produce ethanol from biomass is shown.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the biorefinery is configured to produce ethanol from biomass in the form of a lignocellulosic feedstock such as plant material from the corn plant (e.g. corn cobs and corn stover). Lignocellulosic feedstock such as lignocellulosic material from the corn plant comprises cellulose (from which C6 sugars such as glucose can be made available) and/or hemicellulose (from which C5 sugars such as xylose and arabinose can be made available).

As shown in FIG. 1A, the biorefinery comprises an area where biomass is delivered and prepared to be supplied to the cellulosic ethanol production facility. The cellulosic ethanol production facility comprises apparatus for preparation, pre-treatment and treatment of the biomass into treated biomass suitable for fermentation into fermentation product in a fermentation system. The facility comprises a distillation system in which the fermentation product is distilled and dehydrated into ethanol. As shown in FIG. 1A, the biorefinery may also comprise a waste treatment system (shown as comprising an anaerobic digester and a generator). According to other alternative embodiments, the waste treatment system may comprise other equipment configured to treat, process and recover components from the cellulosic ethanol production process, such as a solid/waste fuel boiler, anaerobic digester, aerobic digester or other biochemical or chemical reactors.

As shown in FIG. 1B, according to an exemplary embodiment, a biorefinery may comprise a cellulosic ethanol production facility (which produces ethanol from lignocellulosic material and components of the corn plant) co-located with a corn-based ethanol production facility (which produces ethanol from starch contained in the endosperm component of the corn kernel). As indicated in FIG. 1B, by co-locating the two ethanol production facilities, certain plant systems may be shared, for example, systems for dehydration, storage, denaturing and transportation of ethanol, energy/fuel-to-energy generation systems, plant management and control systems, and other systems. Corn fiber (a component of the corn kernel), which can be made available when the corn kernel is prepared for milling (e.g. by fractionation) in the corn-based ethanol production facility, may be supplied to the cellulosic ethanol production facility as a feedstock. Fuel or energy sources such as methane or lignin from the cellulosic ethanol production facility may be used to supply power to either or both co-located facilities. According to other alternative embodiments, a biorefinery (e.g. a cellulosic ethanol production facility) may be co-located with other types of plants and facilities, for example an electric power plant, a waste treatment facility, a lumber mill, a paper plant or a facility that processes agricultural products.

Referring to FIG. 2, a system for preparation of biomass delivered to the biorefinery is shown. The biomass preparation system may comprise apparatus for receipt/unloading of the biomass, cleaning (i.e. removal of foreign matter), grinding (i.e. milling, reduction or densification), and transport and conveyance for processing at the plant. According to an exemplary embodiment, biomass in the form of corn cobs and stover may be delivered to the biorefinery and stored (e.g. in bales, piles or bins, etc.) and managed for use at the facility. According to a preferred embodiment, the biomass may comprise at least 20 to 30 percent corn cobs (by weight) with corn stover and other matter. According to other exemplary embodiments, the preparation system of the biorefinery may be configured to prepare any of a wide variety of types of biomass (i.e. plant material) for treatment and processing into ethanol and other bioproducts at the plant.

Referring to FIG. 3, a schematic diagram of the cellulosic ethanol production facility is shown. According to a preferred embodiment, biomass comprising plant material from the corn plant is prepared and cleaned at a preparation system. After preparation, the biomass is mixed with water into a slurry and is pre-treated at a pre-treatment system. In the pre-treatment system, the biomass is broken down (e.g. by hydrolysis) to facilitate separation into a liquid component (e.g. a stream comprising the C5 sugars) and a solids component (e.g. a stream comprising cellulose from which the C6 sugars can be made available). The C5-sugar-containing liquid component (C5 stream) and C6-sugar-containing solids component (C6 stream) can be treated (as may be suitable) and fermented in a fermentation system. Fermentation product from the fermentation system is supplied to a distillation system where the ethanol is recovered.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A, removed components from treatment of the C5 stream can be treated or processed to recover by-products, such as organic acids and furfural. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4B, removed components from treatment of the C6 stream, such as lignin or other components, can be treated or processed into bioproducts or into fuel (such as lignin for a solid fuel boiler or methane produced by treatment of residual/removed matter such as acids and lignin in an anaerobic digester). As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, components removed during treatment and production of ethanol from the biomass from either or both the C5 stream and the C6 stream (or at distillation) may be processed into bioproducts (e.g. by-products or co-products) or recovered for use or reuse. As shown in FIG. 4C, removed components from the distillation system (such as stillage or removed solids) or from the treatment of the fermentation product before distillation (e.g. removed solids and particulate matter, which may comprise residual lignin, etc.) can be treated or processed into bioproducts or fuel (e.g. methane produced in an anaerobic digester).

According to a preferred embodiment, the biomass comprises plant material from the corn plant, such as corn cobs, husks and leaves and stalks; the composition of the plant material (i.e. cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) will be approximately as indicated in TABLES 1A and 1B. According to a preferred embodiment, the plant material comprises corn cobs, husks/leaves and stalks (i.e. after cleaning/removal of foreign matter); for example, the plant material may comprise (by weight) up to 100 percent cobs, up to 100 percent husks/leaves, approximately 50 percent cobs and approximately 50 percent husks/leaves, approximately 30 percent cobs and approximately 50 percent husks/leaves and approximately 20 percent stalks, or any other combinations of cobs, husks/leaves and stalks from the corn plant. See TABLE 1A. According to an exemplary embodiment, corn stalks comprise the upper half or three-quarters portion of the stalk. According to an alternative embodiment, the lignocellulosic plant material may comprise fiber from the corn kernel (e.g. in some combination with other plant material). TABLE 1B provides typical and expected ranges believed to be representative of the composition of biomass comprising lignocellulosic material from the corn plant. According to exemplary embodiments, the lignocellulosic plant material of the biomass (from the corn plant) will comprise (by weight) cellulose at about 30 to 55 percent, hemicellulose at about 20 to 50 percent, and lignin at about 10 to 25 percent; according to a particularly preferred embodiment, the lignocellulosic plant material of the biomass (cobs, husks/leaves and stalk portions from the corn plant) will comprise (by weight) cellulose at about 35 to 45 percent, hemicellulose at about 24 to 42 percent, and lignin at about 12 to 20 percent. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, pre-treatment of the biomass will yield a liquid component that comprises (by weight) xylose at no less than 1.0 percent and a solids component that comprises (by weight) cellulose (from which glucose can be made available) at no less than 45 percent.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, exemplary embodiments of systems for the production of ethanol from biomass are shown. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, biomass is pre-treated in a pre-treatment system and then separated into a liquid component and a solids component.

According to a preferred embodiment, in the pre-treatment system an acid will be applied to the prepared biomass to facilitate the break down of the biomass for separation into the liquid component (C5 stream from which fermentable C5 sugars can be recovered) and the solids component (C6 stream from which fermentable C6 sugars can be accessed). According to a preferred embodiment, the acid can be applied to the biomass in a reaction vessel under determined operating conditions (i.e. acid concentration, pH, temperature, time, pressure, solids loading, flow rate, supply of process water or steam, etc.) and the biomass can be agitated/mixed in the reaction vessel to facilitate the break down of the biomass. According to exemplary embodiments, an acid such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, etc. (or a formulation/mixture of acids) can be applied to the biomass. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, sulfuric acid will be applied to the biomass in pre-treatment.

The liquid component (C5 stream) comprises water, dissolved sugars (such as xylose, arabinose and glucose) to be made available for fermentation into ethanol, acids and other soluble components recovered from the hemicellulose. (TABLE 2B provides typical and expected ranges believed to be representative of the composition of biomass comprising lignocellulosic material from the corn plant.) According to an exemplary embodiment, the liquid component may comprise approximately 5 to 7 percent solids (i.e. suspended/residual solids such as partially-hydrolyzed hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin). According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the liquid component will comprise at least 2 to 4 percent xylose (by weight); according to other exemplary embodiments, the liquid component will comprise no less than 1 to 2 percent xylose (by weight). TABLES 2A and 2B list the composition of the liquid component of pre-treated biomass (from prepared biomass as indicated in TABLES 1A and 1B) according to exemplary and representative embodiments.

The solids component (C6 stream) comprises water, acids and solids such as cellulose from which sugar, such as glucose, can be made available for fermentation into ethanol, and lignin. (TABLE 3B provides typical and expected ranges believed to be representative of the composition of biomass comprising lignocellulosic material from the corn plant.) According to an exemplary embodiment, the solids component may comprise approximately 10 to 40 percent solids (by weight) (after separation); according to a particularly preferred embodiment, the solids component will comprise approximately 20 to 30 percent solids (by weight). According to a preferred embodiment, the solids in the solids component comprise no less than 30 percent cellulose and the solids component may also comprise other dissolved sugars (e.g. glucose and xylose). TABLES 3A and 3B list the composition of the solids component of pre-treated biomass (from prepared biomass as indicated in TABLES 1A and 1B) according to exemplary and representative embodiments.

During pre-treatment, the severity of operating conditions (such as pH, temperature and time) may cause formation of components that are inhibitory to fermentation. For example, under some conditions, the dehydration of C5 sugars (such as xylose or arabinose) may cause the formation of furfural and/or hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). Acetic acid may also be formed, for example when acetate is released during the break down of cellulose in pre-treatment. Sulfuric acid, which may be added to prepared biomass to facilitate pre-treatment, if not removed or neutralized, may also be inhibitory to fermentation. According to an exemplary embodiment, by adjusting pre-treatment conditions (such as pH, temperature and time), the formation of inhibitors can be reduced or managed; according to other exemplary embodiments, components of the pre-treated biomass may be given further treatment to remove or reduce the level of inhibitors (or other undesirable matter).

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, after pre-treatment and separation the C5 stream and the C6 stream are processed separately; as shown, the C5 stream and the C6 stream may be processed separately prior to co-fermentation (C5/C6 fermentation as shown in FIG. 5A) or processed separately including separate fermentation (separate C5 fermentation and C6 fermentation as shown in FIG. 5B).

Treatment of the C5 stream (liquid component) of the biomass may be performed in an effort to remove components that are inhibitory to efficient fermentation (e.g. furfural, HMF, sulfuric acid and acetic acid) and residual lignin (or other matter) that may not be fermentable from the C5 sugar component so that the sugars (e.g. xylose, arabinose, as well as other sugars such as glucose) are available for fermentation. The C5 sugars in the C5 stream may also be concentrated to improve the efficiency of fermentation (e.g. to improve the titer of ethanol for distillation).

Treatment of the C6 stream (solids component) of the biomass may be performed to make the C6 sugars available for fermentation. According to a preferred embodiment, hydrolysis (such as enzyme hydrolysis) may be performed to access the C6 sugars in the cellulose; treatment may also be performed in an effort to remove lignin and other non-fermentable components in the C6 stream (or to remove components such as residual acid or acids that may be inhibitory to efficient fermentation).

According to an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5A, after pre-treatment and separation the C5 stream and the C6 stream can be treated separately and subsequently combined after treatment (e.g. as a slurry) for co-fermentation in the fermentation system to produce a C5/C6 fermentation product from the available sugars (e.g. xylose and glucose); the C5/C6 fermentation product can (after treatment, if any) be supplied to the distillation system for recovery of the ethanol (e.g. through distillation and dehydration). According to an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5B, the C5 stream and the C6 stream can each be separately processed through fermentation and distillation (after treatment, if any) to produce ethanol. According to any preferred embodiment, a suitable fermenting organism (ethanologen) will be used in the fermentation system; the selection of an ethanologen may be based on various considerations, such as the predominant types of sugars present in the slurry. Dehydration and/or denaturing of the ethanol produced from the C5 stream and the C6 stream may be performed either separately or in combination.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show the apparatus used for preparation, pre-treatment and separation of lignocellulosic biomass according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown, biomass is prepared in a grinder (e.g. grinder mill). Pre-treatment of the prepared biomass is performed in a reaction vessel (or set of reaction vessels) supplied with prepared biomass and acid/water in a predetermined concentration (or pH) and other operating conditions. As shown in FIGS. 6D and 7, the pre-treated biomass can be separated in a centrifuge into a liquid component (e.g. a C5 stream comprising primarily liquids with some solids and which may be referred to as “pentose liquor”) and a solids component (e.g. a C6 stream comprising liquids and solids such as lignin and cellulose from which glucose can be made available by further treatment).

Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, a treatment system for the liquid component of the pre-treated biomass is shown. Treatment system comprises an apparatus for separating the liquid component into a treated liquid component and a retained component. According to any preferred embodiment, the treated liquid component comprises substantially the C5 sugars from the liquid component (C5 stream). The retained component comprises substantially any other constituents such as acid (e.g. sulfuric acid applied in pre-treatment and other acids that may be present in the C5 stream, such as acetic acid) and inhibitors that may be present (e.g. furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural that was produced or released into the C5 stream during pre-treatment).

As shown in FIGS. 8B and 9, according to a preferred embodiment, the treatment system comprises an initial stage filter and an ion exchange chromatography system. The initial stage filter comprises an inline filter (e.g. sock filter with 25-100 micron pore size) and is configured to separate and remove solids or particulate matter from the liquid component to yield a filtered liquid component. The filtered liquid component is then supplied to an ion exchange system. The ion exchange system is configured to separate and remove (e.g. as removed components or waste) inhibitors from the filtered liquid component to yield a treated liquid component comprising xylose and other soluble components not removed in the resin bed.

Referring to FIG. 10, a treatment system is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. The system comprises two ion exchange columns (configured in a parallel flow arrangement). Liquid component (C5 stream) is supplied (from a tank) through a pre-filter (e.g. 25 to 100 micron pore size to remove particulate matter) into the top of each column by a pump. Each column contains a bed that is configured to hold/retain a resin that is supplied to the column. The resin is selected to remove inhibitors (at least in some portion) under the operating conditions. Liquid component is eluted through the resin bed and exits at the bottom of the column as treated liquid component that is supplied to a tank. Each column in the system may selectively be used (i.e. one column used while the other column is being regenerated with fresh resin or cleaned, for example, by clean-in-place/caustic solution supplied from a tank). The treated liquid component can be supplied to the fermentation system.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the ion exchange system can be constructed from a tube of a suitable alloy (e.g. stainless steel) of a suitable size (e.g. 96 inches in height and 4 inches in diameter) filled with the appropriate resin. According to other embodiments, any ion exchange system (or ion exchange chromatography system) capable of being configured to treat the liquid component to remove inhibitors and yield C5 sugars for fermentation may be used or constructed.

According to an exemplary embodiment the resin will comprise weak base functional groups that are supported on porous resin beads. According to a preferred embodiment, the resin will be capable of adsorbing and reducing the level of inhibitors in the liquid component and can be regenerated with dilute acid or base and water. According to a particularly preferred embodiment the resin will be capable of adsorbing furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural, but will not adsorb substantial amounts of sugars (e.g. xylose and glucose).

A series of examples were conducted according to an exemplary embodiment of the system in an effort to evaluate the performance of the apparatus with various operating conditions and using different types of resin materials for the treatment of the liquid component (C5 stream) of the pre-treated biomass. Prepared biomass in the form of ground corn cobs (about 14.3 percent solids weight to weight) in a slurry with water was pre-treated in a reaction vessel with dilute sulfuric acid in a concentration of about 0.9 percent (weight to weight) at a temperature of about 150 degrees Celsius for a reaction time of about 10 minutes. The pre-treated biomass was cooled to about 80 degrees Celsius then separated by centrifuge into a liquid component (C5 stream) and a solids component (C6 stream). The liquid component was filtered using a 25 micron pore-size filter. The filtered liquid component (i.e. hydrolysate) was treated in the system as indicated in the examples.

Example 1A

An ion exchange system was used in Example 1A to treat filtered liquid component (i.e. hydrolysate) using resin material available under the trade name Optipore® SD-2 from Dow Chemical Co. of Midland, Mich. The binding capacity of the Optipore® SD-2 resin material was evaluated with respect to xylose, glucose and furfural, as shown in FIG. 11A and TABLE 4. The Optipore® SD-2 resin material was then used in the resin bed of the ion exchange system, configured as indicated in TABLE 5A. The filtered liquid component from the pre-treated biomass was supplied to the system for treatment. The filtered liquid component (hydrolysate) was pumped through the resin bed at a rate of between about 37-43 milliliters per minute. The filtered liquid component was supplied at about pH 1.8. Samples of the treated liquid component eluted from the system were taken at regular intervals of cumulative volume flow. The composition of the filtered liquid component supplied to the system and of the samples of treated liquid component eluted from the system were analyzed for (among other things) xylose concentration, glucose concentration and furfural. It was observed that the ion exchange resin demonstrated efficacy in the removal of furfural from the liquid component. It was also observed that a suitable reduced level of furfural (i.e. to below about 500 PPM) was achieved without substantially affecting the levels of xylose or glucose levels (which were maintained at or near the starting level). The results are shown in TABLE 5B and FIG. 11B.

Example 1B

The ion exchange system as configured for Example 1A was used in Example 1B with Optipore® SD-2 resin material in the resin bed of the ion exchange system, configured as indicated in TABLE 5C. The filtered liquid component from the pre-treated biomass was supplied to the ion exchange system for treatment. The filtered liquid component (hydrolysate) was pumped through the resin bed at a rate of about 75 milliliters per minute. Samples of the treated liquid component eluted from the system were taken at regular intervals (e.g. fractions). Each fraction of treated liquid component was fermented into a fermentation product; the fermentation product was sampled at intervals of 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours (which was considered to be essentially completed fermentation). The samples of the treated liquid component and the fermentation product were analyzed. It was observed that the ion exchange system lowered the level of furfural in the liquid component to a level where it no longer was inhibitory to fermentation, and improved the yield of ethanol from the liquid component in fermentation (from effectively near zero to a level of approximately 2.4 percent). The results are shown in TABLES 5D and 5E and FIGS. 11C through 11E.

Example 1C

The ion exchange system as configured for Example 1A was used in Example 1C with Optipore® SD-2 resin material in the resin bed of the ion exchange system, configured as indicated in TABLE 5F. The filtered liquid component from the pre-treated biomass was supplied to the system for treatment. The filtered liquid component (hydrolysate) was pumped through the resin bed at a rate of about 75 milliliters per minute. The system was regenerated (i.e. washing of the resin bed with deionized water and a caustic cleaning solution in the form of sodium hydroxide in a concentration of about 1 percent by weight) at regular intervals. Samples of the treated liquid component eluted from the system were taken at regular intervals of cumulative volume flow including through regeneration. The effect of regeneration on xylose concentration and furfural concentration (among other things) in the treated liquid component was evaluated. It was observed that the functionality of the ion exchange resin could be sustained after regeneration; the resins would continue to elute suitable levels of xylose after regeneration for at least 3 cycles. The results are shown in TABLE 5G and FIGS. 11F and 11G.

Example 2

The ion exchange system was used in Example 2 to treat filtered liquid component (i.e. hydrolysate) using resin material available under the trade name Optipore® L493 from Dow Chemical Co. of Midland, Mich. The binding capacity of the Optipore® L493 resin material was evaluated with respect to xylose, glucose and furfural, as shown in FIG. 12A and TABLE 6A. The Optipore® L493 resin material was then used in the resin bed of the ion exchange system, configured as indicated in TABLE 6B. The filtered liquid component from the pre-treated biomass was supplied to the system for treatment. The filtered liquid component (hydrolysate) was pumped through the resin bed at a rate of between about 40-50 milliliters per minute. The filtered liquid component was supplied at about pH 1.8. Samples of the treated liquid component eluted from the system were taken at regular intervals of cumulative volume flow. The composition of the filtered liquid component supplied to the system and of the samples of treated liquid component eluted from the system were analyzed for (among other things) xylose concentration, glucose concentration and furfural. It was observed that the resin retained furfural but did not retain xylose and glucose (which were eluted and comprised in the treated liquid component). The results are shown in TABLE 6C and FIG. 12B.

Example 3

The ion exchange system was used in Example 3 to treat filtered liquid component (i.e. hydrolysate) using resin material available under the trade name Purolite© MN-102 from Purolite Company of Bala Cynwyd, Pa. The binding capacity of the Purolite® MN-102 resin material was evaluated with respect to xylose, glucose and furfural, as shown in FIG. 13A and TABLE 7A. The Purolite® MN-102 resin material was then used in the resin bed of the ion exchange system, configured as indicated in TABLE 7B. The filtered liquid component from the pre-treated biomass was supplied to the system for treatment. The filtered liquid component (hydrolysate) was pumped through the resin bed at a rate of between about 40-50 milliliters per minute. The filtered liquid component was supplied at about pH 1.8. Samples of the treated liquid component eluted from the system were taken at regular intervals of cumulative volume flow. The composition of the filtered liquid component supplied to the system and of the samples of treated liquid component eluted from the system were analyzed for (among other things) xylose concentration, glucose concentration and furfural concentration. It was observed that the resin retained furfural but did not retain xylose and glucose (which was eluted and comprised in the treated liquid component). The results are shown in TABLE 7C and FIG. 13B.

The embodiments as disclosed and described in the application (including the FIGURES and Examples) are intended to be illustrative and explanatory of the present inventions. Modifications and variations of the disclosed embodiments, for example, of the apparatus and processes employed (or to be employed) as well as of the compositions and treatments used (or to be used), are possible; all such modifications and variations are intended to be within the scope of the present inventions.

TABLE 1A Biomass Composition Husks/ Cellulose Hemicellulose Cob Leaves Stalk (Glucan) Xylan Arabinan Acetate Composite Lignin Ash (per- (per- (per- (per- (per- (per- (per- (per- (per- (per- cent) cent) cent) cent) cent) cent) cent) cent) cent) cent) 100 0 0 36.0 33.3 3.6 3.0 39.9 14.9 2.2 0 100 0 37.2 25.6 4.9 2.2 32.7 13.0 7.7 0 0 100 41.7 22.5 2.4 2.6 27.5 18.3 3.7 50 0 50 38.8 27.9 3.0 2.8 33.7 16.6 3.0 50 50 0 36.6 29.5 4.2 2.6 36.3 14.0 5.0 30 50 20 37.7 27.3 4.0 2.5 33.8 14.6 5.3

TABLE 1B Biomass Typical and Expected Composition Cellulose (Glucan) Hemicellulose Lignin Ash (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) (approx.) (approx.) (approx.) (approx.) Typical Range 35-45 24-42 12-20 2-8  Expected Range 30-55 20-50 10-25 1-10

TABLE 2A Pre-Treated Biomass Liquid Component Composition Husks/ Cob Leaves Stalk Glucose Xylose Arabinose Acetic (per- (per- (per- (per- (per- (per- Acid cent) cent) cent) cent) cent) cent) (ppm) 100 0 0 0.4 4.8 0.5 6090 0 100 0 0.4 2.7 0.5 3400 0 0 100 0.4 4.2 0.4 6180 50 0 50 0.4 4.5 0.4 6135 30 50 20 0.4 3.6 0.5 4763

TABLE 2B Pre-Treated Biomass Liquid Component Typical and Expected Composition Glucose Xylose Arabinose Acetic Acid (percent) (percent) (percent) (ppm) (approx.) (approx.) (approx.) (approx.) Typical Range 0-1 2-6 0-1 3000-6400 Expected Range 0-1 1-8 0-1 2000-8000

TABLE 3A Pre-Treated Biomass Solids Component Composition Husks/ Cellulose Hemicellulose Cob Leaves Stalk (Glucan) Xylan Arabinan Acetate Composite Lignin Ash (per- (per- (per- (per- (per- (per- (per- (per- (per- (per- cent) cent) cent) cent) cent) cent) cent) cent) cent) cent) 100 0 0 60.2 9.5 0.9 0.3 10.7 26.7 1.2 0 100 0 54.4 1.3 0.7 0.7 10.4 23.8 9.7 0 0 100 51.1 1.4 1.0 1.0 15.4 27.3 3.1 50 0 50 55.7 5.5 0.9 0.6 13.1 27.0 2.2 50 50 0 57.3 5.4 0.8 0.5 10.6 25.2 5.4 30 50 20 55.5 3.8 0.8 0.6 11.5 25.4 5.8

TABLE 3B Pre-Treated Biomass Solids Component Typical and Expected Composition Cellulose (Glucan) Hemicellulose Lignin Ash (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) (approx.) (approx.) (approx.) (approx.) Typical Range 48-62 8-17 22-30 1-10 Expected Range 45-65 5-20 20-32 1-10

TABLE 4 Glucose Xylose Furfural Sample Description (percent) (percent) (ppm) Starting material (Liquid Component 0.63 4.50 1266 C5) Optipore SD2, 1 g per 50 mL 0.42 4.38 777 Optipore SD2, 5 g per 50 mL 0.42 4.30 269 Optipore SD2, 10 g per 50 mL 0.41 3.93 72 Optipore SD2, 20 g per 50 mL 0.41 3.45 24

TABLE 5A Volume Eluted Xylose Glucose Furfural (mL) (percent) (percent) (ppm) 0 4.50 0.63 1266 100 0.28 — 22 150 1.21 0.40 23 200 2.26 0.49 26 250 3.10 0.54 32 300 3.58 0.57 36 350 4.03 0.60 43 400 4.28 0.62 49 450 4.39 0.63 60 500 4.38 0.60 69 550 4.47 0.62 85 600 4.54 0.62 98 650 4.66 0.65 115 700 4.66 0.66 130 750 4.61 0.63 149 800 4.59 0.64 168 850 4.56 0.64 186 900 4.59 0.64 207 950 4.34 0.62 222

TABLE 5B Resin Optipore SD-2 Bed Volume 100 mL Bed Height:Diameter Ratio 4:1 Column Feed and Elution Rate 37-43 mL/min

TABLE 5C Volume Eluted Xylose Furfural Ethanol Produced (mL) (percent) (ppm) (percent) 450 0.92 0 0.28 950 1.98 138 1.10 1450 1.97 191 1.05 1950 1.97 261 1.07 2450 1.99 310 1.12 2950 2.04 391 1.10 3450 1.98 462 1.14 3950 1.98 525 1.09 4450 1.99 578 1.09 4950 2.00 593 1.15 5450 1.93 568 1.10 5950 1.93 701 1.10 6450 1.97 699 1.08 6950 1.97 718 1.11

TABLE 5D Resin Optipore SD-2 Bed Volume 100 mL Bed Height:Diameter Ratio 4:1 Column Feed and Elution Rate 75 mL/min Fractions Collected 1 L every 7 liters eluted

TABLE 5E Furfural Xylose Ethanol Frac- (ppm) (percent) (percent) tion 0 h 0 h 24 h 48 h 72 h 0 h 24 h 48 h 72 h 1 856 4.29 3.68 0.52 0.11 0.00 0.42 2.20 2.29 2 913 4.37 3.99 1.57 0.15 0.00 0.30 1.60 2.38 3 902 4.35 4.05 2.09 0.17 0.00 0.29 1.31 2.41 4 911 4.38 4.10 2.71 0.18 0.00 0.26 0.94 2.40 5 955 4.46 4.25 3.58 0.54 0.00 0.24 0.55 2.28 6 970 4.55 4.39 3.63 0.58 0.00 0.24 0.54 2.21 7 949 4.30 4.20 3.25 0.37 0.00 0.23 0.63 2.28 8 958 4.36 4.15 2.91 0.21 0.00 0.25 0.81 2.39 9 914 4.39 4.10 2.20 0.17 0.00 0.28 1.23 2.43 Con- 912 4.34 4.14 4.15 4.14 0.00 0.04 0.05 0.05 trol

TABLE 5F Resin Optipore SD-2 Bed Volume 100 mL Bed Height:Diameter Ratio 4:1 Column Feed and Elution Rate 75 mL/min Fractions Collected 1 L per fraction, 1 L per wash

TABLE 5G Fraction Vol. Eluted Xylose Furfural Volume (mL) (mL) (percent w/v) (ppm) 10 0 4.52 1239 1000 1000 3.64 502 1000 2000 4.58 920 1000 7000 4.55 1268 1000 H2O wash 0.35 222 1000 NaOH wash 0.03 8 1000 H2O wash 0.01 22 1000 8000 3.50 377 1000 9000 4.53 827 1000 14000 4.23 950 1000 H2O wash 0.32 412 1000 NaOH wash 0.02 4 1000 H2O wash 0.00 52 1000 15000 3.39 363 1000 16000 4.25 615 1000 21000 4.15 1004 1000 H2O wash 0.56 580 1000 NaOH wash 0.02 4 1000 H2O wash 0.00 32 1000 H2O wash 0.01 102

TABLE 6A Glucose Xylose Furfural Sample Description (percent) (percent) (ppm) Starting material (Liquid Component 0.63 4.50 1266 C5) Dowex Optipore L493, 1 g per 50 ml 0.20 2.12 334 Dowex Optipore L493, 5 g per 50 ml 0.17 2.00 47 Dowex Optipore L493, 10 g per 50 ml 0.25 2.58 20 Dowex Optipore L493, 20 g per 50 ml 0.27 2.82 10

TABLE 6B Resin Optipore L493 Bed Volume 100 mL Bed Height:Diameter Ratio 10:1 Column Feed and Elution Rate 40-50 mL/min

TABLE 6C Volume Eluted Xylose Glucose Furfural (mL) (percent) (percent) (ppm) 0 4.24 0.41 586 100 0.02 — 2 150 0.48 0.06 2 200 1.71 0.19 9 250 2.93 0.30 7 300 3.57 0.36 8 350 3.89 0.38 9 400 4.09 0.40 9 450 4.10 0.39 10 500 4.18 0.39 6 550 4.25 0.41 12 600 4.26 0.41 13 650 4.30 0.41 14 700 4.27 0.41 11 750 4.29 0.41 13 800 4.23 0.41 13 850 4.31 0.41 14 900 4.29 0.42 16 950 4.25 0.41 17

TABLE 7A Glucose Xylose Furfural Sample Description (percent) (percent) (ppm) Starting material (Liquid Component 0.63 4.50 1266 C5) Purolite MN102, 1 g per 50 ml 0.32 3.35 592 Purolite MN102, 5 g per 50 ml not not analyzed 136 analyzed Purolite MN102, 10 g per 50 ml 0.33 3.23 29 Purolite MN102, 20 g per 50 ml 0.31 3.03 7.9

TABLE 7B Resin Purolite MN-102 Bed Volume 100 mL Bed Height:Diameter Ratio 4:1 Column Feed and Elution Rate 40-50 mL/min

TABLE 7C Volume Eluted Xylose Glucose Furfural (mL) (percent) (percent) (ppm) 0 4.21 0.41 546 100 — — 1.9 150 0.19 0.01 1.9 200 1.23 0.09 1.9 250 2.53 0.25 1.9 300 3.28 0.32 1.9 350 3.65 0.35 5.3 400 3.92 0.38 1.9 450 4.07 0.40 13 500 4.13 0.39 11 550 4.20 0.40 12 600 4.19 0.40 14 650 4.33 0.41 16 700 4.25 0.41 16 750 4.20 0.40 19 800 4.21 0.41 24 850 4.21 0.41 27 900 4.21 0.40 25 950 4.21 0.40 28 

1. A system for treating a liquid component separated from biomass to yield a treated liquid component comprising sugars available to be fermented into a fermentation product comprising: a filter configured to remove matter having a particle size of larger than about 25 to 100 microns from the liquid component; an apparatus configured to remove one or more inhibitors from the filtered liquid component; wherein the apparatus comprises an ion exchange system comprising a resin bed; wherein the resin bed comprises an adsorbent type resin; wherein the biomass comprises lignocellulosic material; wherein the lignocellulosic material comprises at least one of corn cobs, corn plant husks, corn plant leaves and corn plant stalks.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the inhibitors comprise furfural and/or hydroxymethylfurfural.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the liquid component comprises furfural in a concentration of at least 700 PPM.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The system of claim 5 wherein the resin is capable of adsorbing furfural and/or hydroxymethylfurfural.
 7. (canceled)
 8. The system of claim 1 wherein the resin does not retain sugars.
 9. The system of claim 1 wherein the resin does not retain xylose.
 10. The system of claim 1 wherein the treated liquid component comprises furfural at a concentration of no more than 700 PPM.
 11. The system of claim 1 wherein the treated liquid component comprises hydroxymethylfurfural at a concentration of no more than 100 PPM.
 12. (canceled)
 13. A method for treating a liquid component separated from biomass to yield a treated liquid component comprising sugars suitable to be fermented into a fermentation product comprising the steps of: filtering the liquid component to remove particulate matter having a size of larger than about 25 to 100 microns; treating the filtered liquid component using an ion exchange system to remove inhibitors from the filtered liquid component; wherein the ion exchange system comprises a resin; wherein the biomass comprises lignocellulosic material; wherein the lignocellulosic material comprises at least one of corn cobs, corn plant husks, corn plant leaves and corn plant stalks; wherein the sugars contain xylose.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the inhibitors comprise furfural.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein the inhibitors comprise hydroxymethylfurfural.
 16. The method of claim 13 wherein the liquid component comprises furfural at a concentration of at least 700 PPM.
 17. The method of claim 13 wherein the treated liquid component comprises furfural at a concentration of no more than 700 PPM.
 18. The method of claim 13 wherein the liquid component comprises xylose at a concentration of at least 1.0 percent by weight.
 19. The method of claim 13 wherein the fermentation product comprises ethanol.
 20. The method of claim 13 wherein the resin comprises an adsorbent type resin.
 21. The method of claim 13 wherein the liquid component comprises an acid.
 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the acid comprises acetic acid.
 23. The method of claim 21 wherein the acid comprises sulfuric acid.
 24. The method of claim 21 wherein the resin is configured to remove acid from the liquid component. 